Improvement in insoles for boots and shoes



P. '1'. SMITH 2; R. L. COCHRAN.

Patented Aug.14.-,1877.

' INVENTORS paw ATTORNEY.

NVFEIERS, FHQTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTbN, D (2v UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

PIERCE T. SMITH AND RICHARD L. OOOHlztAN, OF BURLINGTON, IOWA; SAIDOOUHRAN ASSIGNOR TO SAID SMITH."

IMPROVEMENT IN IN SOLES FOR BOOTS AND S HOES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. l94,184, dated August14, 1577 application filed July 1. 9, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, P. T. SMITH and R. L. GOOHRAN, of Burlington, inthe State of Iowa, have invented a new and valuable ImprovementinInsoles forBoots and Shoes; and we do hereby declare that thefollowingis afull,

clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of thesame, reference beinghad to the annexed drawings, makingapartof thisspecification, and to the letters and figures of reference markedthereon.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a representation of a top view of ourimproved shoe-sole, and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal central sectionthereof.

This invention has relation to improvements in insoles for boots andshoes.

The object of the invention is to provide an insole which, beingnon-absorbent, will not become ofl'ensive from having taken upperspiration from the foot; which will be practically indestructible,and of such rigidity as to prevent bending or crinkling when placed in,removed from, or in position in a boot or shoe; which will protect theentire'sole of the foot from the injurious effects of outside moisture;and, finally, which, being made of twothin pieces of difl'erent metals,combined in such relation to each other as to have a lengthened bearingon the ball and heel portions of the foot, respectively, and produce along electro-magnetic current, will prevent the contraction of colds,produce a gentle, stimulating effect, and remove, palliate, or preventrheumatic or neuralgic pains, as will be hereinafter more fullyexplained In the annexed drawings, the letter. A designates our improvedinsole, the anterior part a of which will be preferably made of copper,and the posterior portion 1) of zinc. This insole will be of the usualform and of the various sizes required to cover the inside of theshoe-sole, and parts a b may be rigidly or flexibly jointed together, aswe may elect, though in general we prefer to have them rigidlyconnected, since, being made of thin flexible sheets, they will bendsufficiently to the heel thereof, without changing the nature of theinvention.

It will be also evident that the plate A may be introduced between twothicknesses of leather, constituting a thick shoe-sole, during themaking of the shoe, or between an outer and inner sole in thin shoes;but we prefer to use it between the foot and insole, as r by this meansthe exudations from the former are prevented from being taken up andaccumulated in the pores of the latter and gradually becoming offensive,while exterior moisture is prevented from soaking into the sole andreaching the foot.

Insole A being in contact with the foot, and being composed of twometals, (copper and zinc,) an electric current will necessarily beproduced when moisture is brought in contact therewith, either bysoaking through the sole or by the natural perspiration of the foot.This current will be mild, but continuous throughout the Whole length ofthe foot, and will, by its stimulating effects, keep the feet warm,prevent the contracting of colds, rheumatic pains, or neuralgia. It willalso keep up the circulation of the blood, prevent congestion, andpalliate, when it does not entirely remove, the pains arising fromcramps or other causes.

We are aware that it has been proposed to apply wires or plates ofcopper and zinc to insoles, and to the interior of the bottoms of bootsand shoes; and hence we do not claim such invention, broadly.

What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The flexible sheet-metal insole herein described, consisting of the zincportion a, ex-

tending the entire length of the ball of the Intestimonythatwe claimtlieabove we have foot, and the copper portion 1), extending thehereunto subscribed ournames in the presence entire length of the heel,said portions being of two witnesses. secured together in contact at thenarrow PIERCE T. SMITH.

middle of the insole, and each having its ex- RICHARD L. GOGHRAN. tendedbearing on the foot to set up a current Witnesses: A the entire lengthof the sole, substantially as O. I). LEFFLER,

specified. T; O. WHITELEY.

